43-year-old Shauna Ewing Morgan and her husband were sentenced last month in Brick Municipal Court after pleading guilty to various charges in August. According to the Asbury Park Press and The Patch, it is unknown whether 56-year-old Keith Morgan also will appeal his punishment. Sammy was left in a trash bag earlier this year.

The couple received the maximum jail sentence for the animal abuse charges and must pay $13,000 in restitution to the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. Both also can never own a dog again.

During their sentencing the Morgans expressed remorse, saying they wished they could change what happened. Initially, the couple claimed they found a dog on the side of the road in Wall Township, but later admitted making it up.

Keith Morgan told the judge, "It was a bad time in my life. I shouldn't have lied...wanted to apologize to my wife, Shauna. She wasn't there at the time."

Medical records described Sammy as being "emaciated and dehydrated...he literally was too week to stand."

Judge Robert LePore called the pair's behavior, "heinous and cruel," and said the abuse of Sammy easily could have been prevented, noting it took "25 days of treatment to get him well."